Largest Food and Beverage Company Re-Asserts Commitment to Meeting Consumer Demands for Transparency

Nestlé USA Chairman and CEO Paul Grimwood today issued the following statement on the Senate bi-partisan agreement for a national standard on the mandatory disclosure of genetically engineered (GE) ingredients, commonly known as GMOs, in most foods.

“As part of the world’s largest food and beverage company, we applaud the hard work of Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow in reaching an important bi-partisan agreement that establishes a national standard for mandatory disclosure of GMO ingredients. We’ve been looking for a clear and consistent way to disclose GMO ingredients to consumers who rightfully want to know what is in their food and how their food is made. The proposed legislation accomplishes this in a way that benefits everyone in the food supply chain, from farmers and manufacturers to retailers and consumers.

As part of our commitment to transparency, we continue to work with a coalition of industry leaders adopting SmartLabel™, a digital platform that helps consumers make more informed decisions about the food and beverage products they buy. The SmartLabel platform allows us to communicate directly to consumers in a way we’ve never done before. Beyond GMOs, this digital tool gives us an entirely new platform to share even more information about ingredients, allergens, ingredient sourcing, portion guidance, and much more.”

About Nestlé in the U.S.

Nestlé in the United States is committed to being a trusted leader in nutrition, health and wellness. Our diverse portfolio of food and beverage products provide nutritious options for every member of the family, including infants, toddlers, teens and adults, mature adults, and dogs and cats. Nestlé in the U.S. consists of eight main businesses: Nestlé USA, Nestlé Waters North America, Nestlé Nutrition, Nestlé Professional, Nespresso, Nestlé Health Science, Nestlé Skin Health and Nestlé Purina PetCare Company. Together, these companies operate in more than 120 locations in 47 states and employ over 51,000 people. The United States is Nestlé S.A.’s largest market with combined product sales in the United States totaling more than $26 billion in 2015.

Nestlé is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2016, and we’re commemorating our legacy by honoring our past and rich history, engaging the present with our customers and consumers and looking forward to the future with our commitment to Creating Shared Value and Nutrition, Health and Wellness.